No minutes in the Premier League, a match against PSG spent on the bench and an exclusion from the Fennecs’ latest camp: Rayan Aït-Nouri is enduring a difficult start to the 2026-2027 season at Manchester City.
On 14 October 2026, Manchester City lost 2-4 to Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase of the Champions League. Rayan Aït-Nouri, for his part, stayed on the bench, according to FOOTALGERIEN. The 25-year-old Algerian left-back has not played a single minute in the Premier League this season, according to Afrik-Foot.
Under manager Enzo Maresca, the full-back has accumulated just 105 minutes in all competitions, according to Competition.dz. That reduced playing time raises the question of his future at Manchester City, with the January 2027 winter transfer window approaching.
Scraps in the Premier League
In the Premier League, Aït-Nouri has not yet set foot on the pitch this season. His total of 105 minutes, in all competitions, is reported by Competition.dz.
His attacking output is not non-existent, however: three assists, including one against Porto in the Champions League and two against Norwich City (5-0) in the League Cup, according to L’Expression.
He was also left out of the Manchester City squad for the clash with Liverpool, a 0-3 defeat last weekend, according to Afrik-Foot.
Relations with the Fennecs are fraying
On the national team front, tensions have not eased. Aït-Nouri was excluded from Algeria’s latest camp after expressing his dissatisfaction during the match against Zambia on 26 September, reports La Gazette du Fennec.
The FAF and new national team coach Brahim Hemdani are still waiting for an official mea culpa from the full-back, the same outlet specifies.
Milan and Juve lurking
In this context, a departure is being mentioned even though no official decision has been taken. FOOTALGERIEN indicates that AC Milan and Juventus Turin have positioned themselves for a loan as early as the January 2027 winter transfer window. This remains at the rumour stage.
The player has also reportedly changed representation agency in order to prepare a transfer, according to Competition.dz. This information remains unconfirmed.
Transfermarkt, meanwhile, values the player, who is under contract with City, at 35 million euros.
What comes next
For now, Aït-Nouri remains a Manchester City player. His club are at home this weekend in the Premier League.
On the national team side, Algeria’s squad for the double header against Togo, in African qualifiers in November 2026, has yet to be announced.